U.S. patent application number 12/595852 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for character input device.
Invention is credited to Eui Jin Oh.
Application Number | 20100194700 12/595852 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39876081 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100194700 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh; Eui Jin |
August 5, 2010 |
CHARACTER INPUT DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a character input device which
allows all the characters which it is desired to input to be
arranged in a minimum input region so as to be suitable for
miniaturization, as well as allows each of the arranged characters
to be input through only one-input operation so as to enable rapid
and correct input of a character. The character input device
includes a base having an input region; one or more sensing
sections provided at the input region for sensing a contact with
the input region or a contact movement to the input region; and a
control unit for extracting data corresponding to each input
operation from a memory unit (not shown) and inputting the
extracted data, according to the position of a contact point or the
movement direction of the contact point sensed by the sensing
section relative to a reference input section provided at the input
region.
Inventors: |
Oh; Eui Jin; (Daejeon,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEXYOUME IP GROUP, LLC
5180 PARKSTONE DRIVE, SUITE 175
CHANTILLY
VA
20151
US
|
Family ID: |
39876081 |
Appl. No.: |
12/595852 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 24, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2008/002344 |
371 Date: |
October 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0233
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 24, 2007 |
KR |
1020070039789 |
Claims
1-43. (canceled)
44. A character input device comprising: a sensing section in which
an input region is provided; a reference input section provided at
the input region for identifying an input posion; a plurality of
direction indicating sections disposed equidistantly at different
circumferential positions spaced apart radially from the reference
input section; direction indicators provided at one side of the
reference input section or the direction indicating section for
indicating the movement direction of a contact point for the input
operation performed at the reference input section or the direction
indicating section; a depression sensing section provided under the
sensing section for detecting the depression of the direction
indicating section; and a control unit for extracting data
corresponding to each input operation, from a memory unit and
inputting the extracted data, according to a contact with the
direction indicating section detected by the sensing section, the
depression of the direction indicating section detected by the
depression sensing section, the movement of the contact point
passing through the reference input section, the forward/rearward
and/or leftward/rightward movement of the contact point at the
direction indicating section, or the circumferential movement from
the direction indicating section
45. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein
consonant characters are input by the forward/rearward and/or
leftward/rightward movement directions of the contact point at the
each direction indicating section, and vowel characters are input
by the contact with or the depression of the each direction
indicating section.
46. The character input device according to claim 44, further
comprising a plurality of auxiliary direction indicating sections
provided between the respective direction indicating sections.
47. The character input device according to claim 46, wherein vowel
characters are input by one of the contact with the each direction
indicating section and the movement of the contact point passing
through the reference input section, and various functional
commands are input by the other.
48. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein the
reference input section, the direction indicating sections and the
direction indicators are respectively provided by two or more sets
on the sensing section.
49. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein
respective different characters are input through the contact with
the direction indicating section, movement of a contact point from
the reference input section to the direction indicating section,
movement of a contact point from a position outside the direction
indicating section to the direction indicating section, movement of
a contact point from the direction indicating section to the
position outside the direction indicating section, or movement of a
contact point from the direction indicating section to the
reference input section.
50. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein
respective different characters are input through pressing on the
direction indicating section, movement of a pressing point from the
reference input section to the direction indicating sections,
movement of a pressing point from a position outside the direction
indicating section to the direction indicating section, movement of
a pressing point from the direction indicating section to the
position outside the direction indicating section, or movement of a
pressing point from the direction indicating section to the
reference input section.
51. The character input device according to claim 49, wherein the
one or more of the input operations inputs a character different
from that being input in combination with the one or more input
operations with the circumferential movement.
52. A character input device comprising: a sensing section provided
with an input region; a ring input section provided with a
plurality of direction indicating sections, the direction
indication sections being provided in the input region in a ring
form and being arranged while being spaced at uniform radial
intervals; a pressing sensing section provided under the sensing
section for detecting pressing on the ring input section; and a
control unit for extracting a character data from a memory unit and
inputting the character data corresponding to input operations
according to a contact with the direction indicating section
detected by the sensing section, pressing on the direction
indicating section detected by the pressing sensing section, or a
movement direction of a contact point or a pressing point passing
through the direction indicating section on the ring input
section.
53. The character input device according to claim 52, wherein
respective different characters are input through an input
operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing point
from the direction indicating section through a position outside
the ring input section to another direction indicating section and
an input operation based on movement of a contact point or a
pressing point from a position outside the ring input section
through the direction indicating section and the position outside
the ring input section to another direction indicating section.
54. The character input device according to claim 52, wherein
respective different characters are input through an input
operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing point
from the direction indicating section through a position outside
the ring input section to another direction indicating section and
an input operation based on movement of a contact point or a
pressing point from the direction indicating section through a
position outside the ring input section and another direction
indicating section to a position outside the ring input
section.
55. The character input device according to claim 52, wherein: a
reference input section is further provided at a center of the ring
input section; and respective different characters are input
through an input operation based on movement of a contact point or
a pressing point from the direction indicating section to a
position outside the ring input section, an input operation based
on movement of a contact point or a pressing point from the
direction indicating section through a position outside the ring
input section to the reference input section, an input operation
based on movement of a contact point or a pressing point from the
direction indicating section through a position outside the ring
input section and the reference input section, an input operation
based on movement of a contact point or a pressing point from the
direction indicating section through a position outside the ring
input section and the reference input section to another direction
indicating section, or an input operation based on movement of a
contact point or a pressing point from a position outside the ring
input section through any one of the direction indicating sections,
the reference input section and another direction indicating
section again to a position outside the ring input section.
56. The character input device according to claim 52, wherein: the
ring input section enables a circumferential contact movement
input, and the control unit processes a first input and a last
input as a valid input when a plurality of inputs are detected
along a path during the circumferential contact movement input.
57. The character input device according to claim 56, wherein when
at least two or more inputs of a contact input, an inward contact
movement input, an outward contact movement input and a
circumferential contact movement input to the ring input section
are sequentially detected by the pressing sensing section, the
control unit processes a character corresponding to each of the
inputs as an input.
58. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein the
reference input section comprises a reference input sensing section
for sensing a contact therewith.
59. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein the
input operation is performed in such a fashion that the contact
point located in the direction indicating section is moved to a
tangential direction of a circle having a predetermined radius from
the center of the reference input section.
60. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein the
control unit extracts and inputs respective different characters
according to the direction indicating section which the input
operation with the circumferential direction starts from and ends
at, the performed direction or the performed distance of the input
operation.
61. The character input device according to claim 44, in the case
where the input operation is performed by the movement of the
contact point, a multiple-stage input of two or more stages is
performed according to a difference in the movement distance of the
contact point.
62. The character input device according to claim 44, wherein the
depression sensing section enables a multiple-stage input of two or
more stages according to the depression strength of the contact
point.
63. The character input device according to claim 50, wherein the
one or more of the input operations inputs a character different
from that being input in combination with the one or more input
operations with the circumferential movement.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a character input device,
and more particularly, to a character input device which allows all
the characters which it is desired to input to be arranged in a
minimum input region so as to be suitable for miniaturization, as
well as allows each of the arranged characters to be input through
only one-input operation.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] With the development of software and semiconductor
technology and information processing technology, information
equipment is miniaturized gradually, and the amount of characters
input to such information equipment and its importance are
increasing.
[0003] However, such information equipment causes a lot of problems
when various characters and commands are input thereto. For
example, an input device such as a keyboard used in personal
computers (PCs) or notebook computers has a limitation in
downsizing the input device. Thus, the input device has a
difficulty in making the information equipment small-sized. Also,
in case of a touch screen-type input device in employed in personal
data assistances (PDAs) or a keypad-type input device employed in
cellular phones, users suffer from an inconvenience that an input
speed is low and a possibility of a mistaken input is high.
[0004] In order to more rapidly input characters, numerals, symbols
or the like in information equipment such as the PCs, the notebook
computers, the PDAs, the cellular phones, etc., a so-called
one-operation and one phoneme (character) input principle is
required in which one phoneme (character) is input upon one-input
operation. In the case where the one-operation and one phoneme
input principle is performed on Hangeul or the Korean alphabet,
buttons or input keys for inputting more than 24 characters need to
be arranged on the information equipment. In the case where a
language of a character to be input is Japanese alphabet or another
foreign language, a relatively increased number of buttons or input
keys may be required for the input devices as compared to the case
of Hangeul.
[0005] However, since a conventional input device used in various
information equipment adopts an input scheme in which an associated
character is assigned to each input key and the input key is tapped
or depressed with a user's finger so as to input a character, it is
difficult to arrange more than 24 input keys each having the size
of a finger in a personal portable information terminal such as a
cellular phone in which an arrangement area of input keys is
small.
[0006] For this reason, it has been difficult to miniaturize a
keyboard so far. In case of a cellular phone, since more than 24
Hangeul characters must be input using only 12 buttons, one button
is inevitably overlappingly assigned with a plurality of
characters. As a result, a repetitive input phenomenon frequently
occurs in which a user depresses corresponding buttons twice or
thrice in order to input one character (phoneme), which contributes
to an increase of a character input time to thereby cause an
inconvenience to the user.
[0007] Recently, the technology of small-sized terminals such
cellular phones or PDAs follows a trend toward large-scale of the
screen so as to efficiently provide more various information than
TV, the Internet, etc., do. Accordingly, among products put on the
market presently, some products employ a touch screen-type liquid
crystal screen so that a user can input a character through the
touch screen without eliminating a separate input space. In this
case, the touch screen is advantageously maximized, but it is still
difficult to arrange a sufficient number of keys for performing a
character input and executing various functional commands on the
touch screen. In other words, the entire screen cannot be assigned
as an input keyboard. Also, in the case where the size of a key is
made small in order to arrange the sufficient number of keys on a
partial region of the touch screen, small keys are densely arranged
on the touch screen, thereby leading to erroneous typing during the
input operation. Further, it is actually difficult to rapidly input
a character as in a keyboard.
[0008] Furthermore, in the case where a small number of keys are
arranged on the touch-screen to magnify the size of keys, more than
two keys must be selected repetitively so as to input a desired
character, making it impossible to rapidly input it.
[0009] In order to address and solve such problems, there has been
proposed a character input method in which certain characters such
as heaven (.), earth () and man () meaning the three basic
components of the universe are combined to input a desired
character. However, this method still could not solve the
repetitive input phenomenon. Further, in case of the English
alphabet, an input method which is called `T9` has been proposed.
But such an input method encounters a problem in that the
one-operation and one phoneme-input principle is not performed in
which one phoneme (character) is input upon one input
operation.
[0010] Moreover, there has been proposed an input technique such as
a keyboard which can be held by hand with it rolled up, a virtual
laser keyboard in which when keys of the keyboard are projected
onto the bottom and the projected keys are depressed using a finger
above the bottom, the position of the used finger is sensed to
achieve the input operation, or the like.
[0011] However, this kind of input device gives users an
inconvenience of having to always carry around. Also, since such an
input device has a problem in that since a character can be input
only in a state where the input device is placed on the bottom, the
input device is unsuitable for a personal portable information
terminal which requires a character to be input with it held by
hand during the traveling.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0012] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an
effort to solve the aforementioned problems occurring in the prior
art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a
character input device which allows all the characters which it is
desired to input to be arranged in a minimum input region so as to
be suitable for miniaturization, as well as allows each of the
arranged characters to be input through only one-input operation so
as to enable rapid and correct input of a character.
Technical Solution
[0013] The above object is achieved by a character input device
including a base having an input region; one or more sensing
sections provided at the input region for sensing a contact with
the input region or a contact movement to the input region; and a
control unit for extracting data corresponding to each input
operation from a memory unit and inputting the extracted character
data, according to the position of a contact point or the movement
direction of the contact point sensed by the sensing section
relative to a reference input section provided at the input
region.
[0014] The sensing section may allow the input region to be divided
correspondingly to a plurality of direction indicating sections
disposed at different circumferential positions spaced apart
radially outwardly from the reference input section, and the
control unit may extract and inputs data allocated to each
direction indicating section corresponding to the sensing section
that has sensed the contact.
[0015] The sensing section may be distributed on the entire area of
the input region, except for the reference input section, the input
region having a plurality of direction indicating sections disposed
equidistantly at different circumferential positions spaced apart
radially outwardly from the reference input section.
[0016] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved radially outwardly from the reference
input section toward each of the direction indicating sections.
[0017] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved radially inwardly from each of the
direction indicating sections toward the reference input
section.
[0018] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved from any one of the direction indicating
sections to another direction indicating section while passing
through the reference input section.
[0019] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved from each of the direction indicating
sections to the tangential direction of a circle having a
predetermined radius from the center of the reference input
section.
[0020] The control unit may input the data corresponding to each
input operation by separating different signals depending on the
movement direction of the contact point at the each direction
indicating section.
[0021] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved in the circumferential direction around
the reference input section.
[0022] The control unit extracts and inputs different characters
depending on each direction indicating section which the input
operation starts from and ends at, and the direction and the
distance of the movement of the contact point for the input
operation.
[0023] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved forward and rearward at respective
direction indicating sections around the reference input
section.
[0024] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved leftward and rightward at respective
direction indicating sections around the reference input
section.
[0025] The input operation may be performed in such a fashion that
the contact point is moved forward and rearward, and leftward and
rightward at respective direction indicating sections around the
reference input section.
[0026] The reference input section comprises a reference input
sensing section for sensing a contact therewith.
[0027] The respective input operations may be performed in a
combination of more than two input operations so as to input a
Korean character or an English character.
[0028] The respective input operations may be performed in an
additional combination of more than one input operation so as to
input a numeral, a symbol, a mode switch or a function.
[0029] The direction indicating sections are provided in any one of
four to twelve directions.
[0030] In the case where the input operation may be performed
through the movement of the contact point, a multiple-stage input
operation, i.e., a more than two-stage input operation is performed
depending on a difference in the movement distance of the contact
point.
[0031] The sensing section may comprise a depression sensing
section at the bottom thereof for detecting the depression of each
direction indicating section to thereby enable a multiple-stage
input operation, i.e., a more than two-stage input operation
depending on the strength of the depression.
[0032] The sensing section may comprise a touch pad provided at the
input region.
[0033] The sensing section may comprise a touch screen.
[0034] The reference input section or at least one of the direction
indicating sections may comprise direction indicators for
indicating the movement direction of the contact point for the
input operation at the proximity thereof.
[0035] The direction indicators may display a character input by
the input operation according to each direction indicator.
[0036] The direction indicators may vary in size and color
depending on a character input mode in which a character is
input.
[0037] The reference input section may be provided so as to be
movable in the input region.
[0038] A standby region may be positioned at one side of the input
region comprises, and wherein when the contact point is moved to
the standby region by a drag operation in a state where the
reference input section or any one of the direction indicators is
touched, the direction indicator may be hidden into the touch
screen and when the reference input section is touched so as to
return to the input region, the direction indicators may be
re-displayed on the input region.
[0039] In this case, the reference input section or the direction
indicators may be provided so as to adjustable in transparency.
[0040] The reference input section may be provided at least two in
number so as to be arranged vertically at the edge of the input
region and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined
interval.
[0041] The reference input section may be provided at least two in
number so as to be arranged horizontally at the left and right
sides of the input region.
[0042] The reference input section and the sensing section may be
provided two in number, respectively, at the upper and lower
positions or the left and right positions of the base adjacent to
the touch screen.
[0043] The character input device may further comprise a display
section for displaying the character extracted by the control unit
thereon, the display section including a character display part for
displaying characters, etc., assigned for the each input operation
thereon.
[0044] The character input device may further comprise a display
section provided at the base for displaying the character extracted
by the control unit thereon, the display section including a
character display part provided at one side thereof for displaying
characters, etc., assigned for the each input operation
thereon.
[0045] In the case where the operation mode of the character input
device may be switched from a character input mode to a mouse input
mode, the movement of a pointer is performed by the movement of the
contact point and the left and right button functions of the mouse
are performed by the touch of the mouse.
[0046] In the case where the operation mode of the character input
device is switched from a character input mode to a joystick input
mode, the movement of a game character may be performed by the
movement of the contact point and various manipulation functions of
the game character may be performed by the touch of the game
character.
[0047] During the movement of the contact point, as the contact
point goes far away from the reference input section 30, the
movement speed of the pointer or the game character may be
gradually increased.
[0048] The reference input section may be provided in two sets at
the input region, such that the movement of the mouse pointer or
the game character is performed by one of the two reference input
sections, and the functions of the left and right button of the
mouse or various manipulation functions of the game character are
performed by the other reference input section.
[0049] The direction indicating sections may be provided eight in
number so that the eight characters are input by touching them, and
the contact point is moved radially inwardly from each of the eight
direction indicating sections to the reference input section and is
moved radially outwardly from the reference input section to each
of the eight direction indicating sections so that a total of 24
characters can be input.
[0050] The direction indicating sections may be provided four in
number so that the four characters are input by touching them, and
the contact point is moved radially inwardly from each of the four
direction indicating sections to the reference input section and is
moved radially outwardly from the reference input section to each
of the four direction indicating sections so that a total of 12
characters can be input, and where the reference input section and
the direction indicating sections are provided in pairs at the left
and right sides of the input region so that a total of 24
characters can be input.
[0051] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a character input device comprising: a touch screen in
which an input region is provided; a reference input section
provided at the input region; four direction indicating sections
disposed equidistantly at different circumferential positions
spaced apart radially outwardly from the reference input section;
direction indicators provided at one side of the reference input
section and the each direction indicating section for indicating
the movement direction of a contact point for the input operation
performed at the reference input section and the each direction
indicating section; and a control unit for extracting data
corresponding to each input operation from a memory unit and
inputting the extracted data, according to a contact with the each
direction indicating section detected by the touch screen, the
movement direction of the contact point passing through the
reference input section or the forward/rearward and
leftward/rightward movement directions of the contact point at the
each direction indicating section.
[0052] In this case, the touch screen may employ a touch
screen.
[0053] The character input device may further comprise four
auxiliary direction indicating sections provided between the
respective direction indicating sections.
[0054] Vowel characters may be input by the movement of the contact
point passing through the reference input section, consonant
characters may be input by the forward/rearward and
leftward/rightward movement directions of the contact point at the
each direction indicating section, and various functional commands
may be input by the contact with the each direction indicating
section.
[0055] The reference input section, the direction indicating
sections and the direction indicators may be provided two in
number, respectively, at the left and right sides on the touch
screen to thereby include two input sets.
[0056] The movement direction of the contact point passing through
the reference input section may be provided in the form of any one
of four directions and eight directions.
[0057] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a character input device comprising: a touch screen in
which an input region is provided; a reference input section
provided at the input region; four direction indicating sections
disposed equidistantly at different circumferential positions
spaced apart radially outwardly from the reference input section;
direction indicators provided at one side of the reference input
section and the each direction indicating section for indicating
the movement direction of a contact point for the input operation
performed at the reference input section and the each direction
indicating section; a depression sensing section provided at the
bottom thereof for detecting the depression of each direction
indicating section; and a control unit for extracting data
corresponding to each input operation from a memory unit and
inputting the extracted data, according to a contact with the each
direction indicating section detected by the touch screen, the
depression of the each direction indicating section detected by the
depression sensing section, the movement direction of the contact
point passing through the reference input section and the
forward/rearward and leftward/rightward movement directions of the
contact point at the each direction indicating section.
[0058] In this case, the touch screen may employ a touch
screen.
[0059] The consonant characters may be input by the
forward/rearward and leftward/rightward movement directions of the
contact point at the each direction indicating section, and vowel
characters may be input by the contact with and depression of the
each direction indicating section.
[0060] The character input device may further comprise four
auxiliary direction indicating sections provided between the
respective direction indicating sections.
[0061] Vowel characters may be input by one of the contact with the
each direction indicating section and the movement of the contact
point passing through the reference input section, and various
functional commands may be input by the other.
[0062] The reference input section, the direction indicating
sections and the direction indicators may be provided two in
number, respectively, at the left and right sides on the touch
screen to thereby include two input sets.
[0063] Respective different characters may be input through contact
with each of the direction indicating section, movement of a
contact point from the reference input section to each of the
direction indicating sections, movement of a contact point from a
position outside the indicating section to the direction indicating
section, movement of a contact point from the direction indicating
section to the position outside the direction indicating section,
and movement of a contact point from the direction indicating
section to the reference input section.
[0064] Respective different characters may be input through
pressing on each of the direction indicating section, movement of a
pressing point from the reference input section to each of the
direction indicating sections, movement of a pressing point from a
position outside the direction indicating section to the direction
indicating section, movement of a pressing point from the direction
indicating section to the position outside the direction indicating
section, and movement of a pressing point from the direction
indicating section to the reference input section.
[0065] A character different form those related to the individual
input operations may be input through combination of the one or
more input operations with circumferential movement from a specific
direction indicating section to another direction indicating
section in a circumferential direction.
[0066] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a character input device including a touch screen
provided with an input region; a ring input section provided with a
plurality of direction indicating sections, the direction
indication sections being provided in the input region in a ring
form and being arranged while being spaced at uniform radial
intervals; a pressing sensing section provided below the touch
screen and configured to detect pressing on each of the direction
indicating sections in the ring input section; and a control unit
for extracting respective corresponding character data from memory
unit and inputting the character data in response to contact on
each of the direction indicating sections detected by the touch
screen, pressing on each of the respective direction indicating
sections detected by the pressing sensing section, and a direction
of a contact point or a pressing point passing through each of the
direction indicating sections in the ring input section.
[0067] Respective different characters may be input through input
operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing point
from the direction indicating section through a position outside
the ring input section to another direction indicating section and
input operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing
point from a position outside the ring input section through the
direction indicating section and a position outside the ring input
section to another direction indicating section.
[0068] Respective different characters may be input through input
operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing point
from the direction indicating section through a position outside
the ring input section to another direction indicating section and
input operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing
point from the direction indicating section through a position
outside the ring input section and another direction indicating
section to a position outside the ring input section.
[0069] A reference input section may be further provided at a
center of the ring input section; and respective different
characters may be input through input operation based on movement
of a contact point or a pressing point from each of the direction
indicating sections to a position outside the ring input section,
input operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing
point from the direction indicating section through a position
outside the ring input section to the reference input section,
input operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing
point from the direction indicating section through a position
outside the ring input section and the reference input section,
input operation based on movement of a contact point or a pressing
point from the direction indicating section through a position
outside the ring input section and the reference input section to
another direction indicating section, and input operation based on
movement of a contact point or a pressing point from a position
outside the ring input section through any one of the direction
indicating sections, the reference input section and another
direction indicating section again to a position outside the ring
input section.
[0070] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a character input device including a touch screen
provided with an input region; two reference input sections
provided on right and left sides of the input region; four
direction indicating sections arranged around the respective
reference input section to have uniform radial distance
therebetween; direction indicators provided on sides of the
reference input section and the respective direction indicating
sections, and configured to display one or more directions of a
contact point performed in the reference input sections and the
direction indicating sections; and a control unit for extracting
respective corresponding character data from memory unit and
inputting the character data in response to contact on each of the
direction indicating sections detected by the touch screen, each of
directions of a contact point passing through each of the reference
input sections, and each of directions of a contact point from each
of the direction indicating sections.
[0071] The directions of the movement of the contact point from
each of the direction indicating sections may include one or more
of a vertical direction and a lateral direction.
[0072] The directions of the movement of the contact point from
each of the direction indicating sections may include one or more
of an inward direction toward the reference input section and an
outward direction.
[0073] The direction indicating sections may be a total of 8
direction indicating sections, including four additional direction
indicating sections, and the directions of the movement of the
contact point from each of the direction indicating sections may
include one or more of an inward direction toward the reference
input section and an outward direction.
[0074] The directions of the movement of the contact point passing
through the reference input section may be 4 or 8 in number.
[0075] The character input device may further include four
auxiliary direction indicating sections provided between the
respective direction indicating sections.
[0076] Various functional commands may be input through movement of
the contact point passing through the reference input sections, and
contact with and movement related to the respective direction
indicating sections and auxiliary direction indicating
sections.
[0077] Vowel characters are input through contact with the
respective direction indicating sections, and consonant characters
may be input through the movement of the contact point.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS
[0078] Accordingly, a character input device of the present
invention allows all the characters which it is desired to input to
be arranged in a minimum input region where a reference input
section is disposed as to be suitable for miniaturization, as well
as allows each of the arranged characters to be input through only
one-input operation so as to enable rapid and correct input of a
character.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0079] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a character input
device according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0080] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing various modifications of
a sensing section shown in FIG. 1;
[0081] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a character input device
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0082] FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views showing various
modifications of an input operation performed by a character input
device according to the present invention;
[0083] FIGS. 6 to 8 are enlarged views showing various
modifications of a direction indicating section of a character
input device according to the present invention;
[0084] FIGS. 9 and 10 are plan views each showing a dual set-type
input device according to the present invention character;
[0085] FIGS. 11 and 12 are plan views showing the arrangements of a
reference input section and direction indicating sections according
to various embodiments of the present invention;
[0086] FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram illustrating an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0087] FIGS. 14 and 15 are configuration diagrams showing the basic
input operations of the present invention;
[0088] FIGS. 16 to 18 are configuration diagrams illustrating the
circumferential movement input of the present invention;
[0089] FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing a form in which
all various input operations of the present invention are included
in a single device;
[0090] FIGS. 20 to 22 are configuration diagrams illustrating the
combination of the basic operation of the present invention and
circumferential movement input; and
[0091] FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram illustrating the
variation of the input operation of the present invention.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0092] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached
drawings.
[0093] Referring to the drawings, a character input device 1
according to the present invention comprises a base 10 having an
input region 25; a plurality of sensing sections 20 provided at the
input region 25 (see FIG. 2) for sensing a contact with the input
region or a contact movement to the input region; and a control
unit (not shown) for extracting character data corresponding to
each input operation from a memory unit (not shown) and inputting
the extracted data according to the position of a contact point or
the movement direction of the contact point sensed by the sensing
section 20 relative to a reference input section 30 provided at one
side of the input region 25.
[0094] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a character input
device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0095] Referring to FIG. 1, a sensing section 20 is disposed at the
input region 25 (see FIG. 2) provided at one side of the base 10 so
as to sense a contact with the input region 25 or a contact
movement to the input region.
[0096] The sensing section 20 may be provided in various forms. For
example, the sensing section 20 may be provided in the form of a
touch pad 21 as shown in FIG. 1, and may be provided with a contact
(or touch) sensor, a pressure sensor, a depression-detecting sensor
(switch), a resistive sensor or the like in plural numbers as shown
in FIGS. 1b(a) to 1b(c).
[0097] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensing section may
be provided in the form of a touch screen 23 in which a display
function is added to the touch pad 21.
[0098] That is, the sensing section 20 includes the touch pad 21 or
the touch screen in which a display function is added to the touch
pad 21, and a touch (contact) sensor which can sense a contact and
a movement of a finger or an object.
[0099] Also, the sensing section 20 may be provided with one
sensor, but may be formed in such a fashion as to be regularly
arranged in plural numbers in a predetermined input space such as
the touch pad 21 or the touch screen.
[0100] In the case where the sensing section 20 is provided in the
form of the touch pad 21 or the touch screen 23, the input region
is divided correspondingly to each direction indicating section 50
relative to the reference input section.
[0101] Further, the sensing section 20 may be provided on the
entire area of the input region 25 as shown in FIG. 1, and may be
provided in a certain area of a portion corresponding on each
direction indicating section 50, as shown in FIG. 2(a). In
addition, the sensing section 20 may be provided on only a partial
area of the input region 25 relative to the reference input section
30 as shown in FIG. 2(b).
[0102] A reference input section 30 is provided on one side of the
input region 25.
[0103] The reference input section 30 acts as a reference for
contact or the movement of a contact point detected by the sensing
section 20, and enables a control unit (not shown) to determine the
relative position of the contact point or the movement direction of
the contact point.
[0104] The reference input section 30 may be fixedly provided on
one side of the input region 25 as shown in FIG. 2, or may be moved
through dragging in the case where the sensing section 20 is
provided in the form of the touch pad 21 or touch screen 23, as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
[0105] In the case of the latter case, referring to FIG. 3 as an
example, when the character input device 1 is not in a character
input mode, the reference input section 30 or direction indicator
33 is located in a standby region 26 on one side of the touch
screen 23, a user drags the reference input section 30 or direction
indicator 33, located in the standby region 26, to the input region
25 when the operational mode is switched to a character input mode,
and then a character can be input.
[0106] In this case, the user can freely select the location of the
reference input section 30 for the input of characters, and thus
the user's convenience is increased.
[0107] Here, the direction indicator 33 may be hidden in the
standby region 26, and may appear when the reference input section
30 is moved to the input region 25.
[0108] When the reference input section 30 is located in the
standby region 26, it may disappear after a predetermined period
has elapsed. Furthermore, when the standby region 26 is touched or
after a predetermined period has elapsed after touching, the
reference input section 30 may appear again.
[0109] Meanwhile, a reference input sensing section (not shown) for
detecting contact with the reference input section 30 may be
further provided.
[0110] Referring to FIG. 2, direction indicating sections 50 are
radially arranged around the reference input section 30.
[0111] It is preferred that the direction indicating sections 50 be
arranged to have a uniform distance from the reference input
section 30 and to have a uniform included angle therebetween.
[0112] The number of direction indicating sections 50 may be
various. For example, the number of direction indicating sections
50 may be four, as shown in FIG. 2, or may be 8 or 12.
[0113] The direction indicating sections 50 are assigned respective
characters, and the control unit extracts a character assigned to
each of the direction indicating sections 50 from a memory unit and
inputs the characters when contact with the direction indicating
section 50 is detected.
[0114] Here, as shown in FIG. 1, a display section 15 for
displaying a character extracted by the control unit may be
provided on the other side of the base 10.
[0115] In this case, character display parts 56 for displaying
characters assigned to respective input operations based on the
reference input section 30 may be further provided in the display
section 15.
[0116] The character display parts 56 display respective input
operations based on the reference input section 30 and characters
assigned to respective input operations, thereby enabling the user
to input characters while viewing the character display parts
56.
[0117] It is apparent that the character display parts 56 may be
selectively displayed or hidden through a user's manipulation.
First Embodiment
[0118] The basic input operation of the character input device 1 as
constructed above according to this embodiment will be described in
detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0119] The term `character` as used herein, refers to consonants or
vowels used to represent languages of each country such as Korean
alphabet (Hangeul), English alphabet, Japanese alphabet, etc., and
is defined as a narrow meaning excluding numerals, symbols or the
like.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 4, eight direction indicating sections 50a
to 50h are disposed equidistantly at different circumferential
positions spaced apart radially outwardly from the reference input
section 30. A character is assigned to each direction indicating
section 50, so that when any contact with a corresponding direction
indicating section 50a is sensed, the control unit extracts a
character code assigned to the sensed corresponding direction
indicating section 50a from the memory unit and inputs the
extracted character code.
[0121] In the meantime, the sensing section 20 may be further
provided with a depression-sensing section (not shown) for sensing
the depression of each direction indicating section 50 at a lower
portion thereof. In this case, a two-stage input operation can be
performed through the touching or depression of each direction
indicating section 50. Alternatively, the depression-sensing
section may be also provided in the form of a pressure sensor so as
to enable a more than two-stage input operation according to the
strength of depression of each direction indicating section 50
through only depression.
[0122] FIG. 4(b) shows examples of various character inputs
according to the movement direction of a contact point at the
outside of the reference input section 30.
[0123] For example, when the contact point is moved from the left
to the right at a position above the reference input section 30
(see `a` of FIG. 4(b)), a Hangeul consonant `` is input, and when
the contact point is moved from the right to the left at the
position above the reference input section 30 (see `b` of FIG.
4(b)), a Hangeul consonant `` is input. Also, when the contact
point is moved from the bottom to the top at the right side of the
reference input section 30 (see `c` of FIG. 5(b)), a Hangeul vowel
`` is input, and when the contact point is moved from the top to
the bottom at the right side of the reference input section 30 (see
`d` of FIG. 5(b)), a Hangeul vowel `` is input.
[0124] That is, the control unit determines the movement direction
of the contact point based on the coordinates of the initial and
the last positions of the contact point by using the reference
input section 30 as an origin of coordinates when the movement of
the contact point is sensed by the sensing section 20 to thereby
extract a character code corresponding to each input operation by
distinguishing the respective input operations from one
another.
[0125] Similarly, FIG. 4(c) shows a state where the contact point
is moved at an oblique angle (for example, at an angle of 45
degrees) relative to the reference input section 30. FIG. 4(d)
shows a state where the contact point is moved while passing
through the reference input section 30. FIG. 4(e) shows a state
where the contact point is moved radially outwardly from the
reference input section 30. FIG. 4(f) shows a state where the
contact point is moved radially inwardly toward the reference input
section 30.
[0126] In the meantime, FIG. 4(g) shows a state where the contact
point passes through the reference input section 30 at a given
angle. That is, the contact point may be moved from a direction
indicating section 50 positioned in the direction of the hour hand
when the clock shows six o'clock to a direction indicating section
50 positioned in the direction of the hour hand when the clock
shows three o'clock or four thirty via the reference input section
30. Also, different characters can be input depending on the
position from which the contact point starts and the position of a
direction indicating section 50 which the contact point reaches via
the reference input section 30.
[0127] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5(a) shows a state
where the contact point is moved vertically outwardly from the
reference input section 30. FIG. 5(b) shows a state where the
contact point is moved outwardly and laterally from the reference
input section 30. FIG. 5(c) shows a state where the contact point
is moved vertically and laterally at respective directions. FIGS.
5(d) and 5(e) show states where the contact point is moved in the
circumferential direction around the reference input section
30.
[0128] In brief, the character input device 1 according to the
present invention separately performs respective input operations
such as an input based on the position of the contact point as
shown in FIG. 4(a) and an input based on the movement of the
contact point as shown in FIGS. 4(b) to 5, thereby input characters
assigned to the respective input operations.
[0129] In this case, the respective input operations shown in FIGS.
4 and 5 may be applied separately or in a combination of more than
two inputs.
[0130] First, the case where the above-mentioned respective input
operations are applied separately will be described hereinafter. In
FIG. 4(a), a total of eight characters can be input through the
contact with eight direction indicating sections 50, a total of
eight characters can also be input through the contact can be input
through the movement of the contact point in FIG. 4(b), and a total
of 16 characters can be input in such a fashion that four
characters are input every oblique direction in FIG. 4(c).
[0131] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the direction
indicating sections 50 may be provided with direction indicators 55
for indicating the movement directions of the contact point passing
through each direction indicating section 50.
[0132] Also, a character to be input according to each input
operation can be displayed on each direction indicator 55 or each
direction indicating section 50 as shown in FIG. 8.
[0133] The case where more than two basic input operations are
combined will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG.
6.
[0134] FIG. 6 shows a combination of the input operations shown in
FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 5(c).
[0135] That is, four direction indicating sections 50a, 50b, 50c
and 50d are arranged around the reference input section 30 so that
four characters can be input through the contact with each
direction indicating section 50 and 16 characters can be input
through the movement of the contact point at each direction
indicating section 50. As a result, a total of 20 characters can be
input.
[0136] In this case, the number of the direction indicating
sections 50 can be modified freely. Thus, if eight direction
indicating section 50 are provided and the input of the character
is possible through the four movements of the contact point at each
direction indicating section 50, a total of 40 characters can be
input.
[0137] Thus, in case of the Hangeul, all the 24 Korean characters
can be sufficiently assigned to the direction indicating sections
and the direction indicators, and in case of the English alphabet,
all the 26 English characters can sufficiently be assigned to the
direction indicating sections and the direction indicators. Spare
characters such as cancel, enter, numeral, symbol and the like can
be assigned to the direction indicating sections and the direction
indicators with respect to the remaining input operations.
[0138] Also, in the case where more than three basic input
operations are combined, Korean characters, English characters,
numerals, symbols as well as functions such as cancel, enter and
the like can be assigned to the direction indicating sections and
the direction indicators, so that a desired character can be input
immediately even without any switch of an input mode.
[0139] Therefore, the character input device 1 of the present
invention allows all the characters which it is desired to input to
be arranged in a minimum input region on which the reference input
section 30 is disposed so as to be suitable for miniaturization, as
well as allows each of the arranged characters to be input through
only one-input operation so as to enable rapid and correct input of
a character.
[0140] In addition, the character input device of the present
invention may be configured such that in case of the input
operation based on the movement of the contact point, respective
input operations may be performed in a multi-stage input scheme
depending on a difference in the movement distance of the contact
point.
[0141] For example, in case of the input operation in which the
contact point is moved form the reference input section 30 to a
direction indicating section 50 positioned in the direction of the
hour hand when the click shows 12 o'clock as shown in FIG. 4(b), if
the movement distance `a` of the contact point is relatively short,
the input operation is performed in a one-stage input scheme, and
the movement distance `b` of the contact point is relatively long,
the input operation is performed in a two-stage input scheme, so
that a total of 16 characters can be input through only the basic
input operation of FIG. 4(b).
[0142] Alternatively, the sensing section 20 is further provided
with a depression sensing section (not shown) at the bottom thereof
for detecting the depression of each direction indicating section
50, so that the sensing section 20 detects any touch thereof and
the depression sensing section detects any depression of the
sensing section to thereby enable the multiple-stage input
operation, i.e., more than two-stage input operation.
[0143] In addition, the depression sensing section may be provided
in the form of a pressure sensor, etc., to thereby enable the
multiple-stage input operation depending on the strength of the
depression through only the depression.
[0144] In the meantime, the character input device 1 according to
the present invention may be configured such that a character can
be input through the reference input section 30 besides the
respective basic input operations as described above.
[0145] For example, the input operation can be achieved through a
contact with the reference input section 30 or the movement of the
contact point passing through the reference input section 30 as
shown FIG. 6.
[0146] That is, in FIG. 6, eight characters can be input through
only the reference input section 30.
[0147] In this case, the reference input section 30 is further
provided with direction indicators 33 for indicating the movement
direction of the contact point for the input operations performed
at the reference input section 30.
[0148] The direction indicators 33 may be provided on the reference
input section 30 in the shape of lines distinguished depending on
the movement direction of the contact point, as shown in FIG. 6,
and may be provided circumferentially around the reference input
section 30 in an arrow shape corresponding to each movement
direction of the contract point, as shown in FIG. 7.
[0149] Here, it is apparent that both the direction distinguishing
lines and the arrows, or the direction distinguishing lines or
arrows may be provided.
[0150] Accordingly, the respective input operations, the
multiple-stage configuration of the respective input operations and
the character input operations through the reference input section
30 can be applied separately or in a combination thereof to thereby
enable all the characters which it is desired to input to be
displayed.
[0151] In the meantime, in the case where the respective basic
input operations shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the input operation
through the reference input section 30 are combined, characters can
be variously assigned for the respective input operations depending
on the kind thereof.
[0152] For example, vowel characters such as Korean vowels, English
vowels, etc., can be assigned for the respective input operations
through the reference input section 30, and consonant characters
such as Korean consonants, English consonants, etc., can be
assigned for the respective input operations performed at positions
spaced apart outwardly from the reference input section 30.
[0153] Also, the reference input section 30 may be assigned with
numerals, symbols or various functions such as cancel, enter and
the like besides characters.
[0154] Further, vowel characters may be assigned for the input
operation through a contact with each direction indicating section
50, consonant characters may be assigned for the input operation
through the movement of the contact point, and numerals, symbols or
various functions may be assigned for the input operation through
the reference input section 30.
[0155] In the meantime, auxiliary direction indicating sections
51a, 51b, 51c and 51d may further be provided between the
respective direction indicating sections 50 which do not allow the
input operation through the movement of the contact point to be
performed.
[0156] The auxiliary direction indicating sections 51a, 51b, 51c
and 51d are configured such that they senses only any contact so as
to allow characters assigned thereto to be input.
[0157] Meanwhile, the character input device 1 according to the
present invention further includes direction indicators 55 for
indicating the movement direction of the contact point for the
respective input operations and displaying characters to be input
through the respective input operations.
[0158] For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the direction
indicators 55 may be provided around the each direction indicating
section 50 in the arrow shape corresponding to each input
operation.
[0159] Of source, the direction indicators 55, as shown in FIG. 8,
can be modified freely in shape and arrangement.
[0160] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the direction
indicators 55 can display characters assigned for the respective
input operations.
[0161] In this case, the characters displayed on the respective
direction indicators 55 may be set to be modified depending on an
input mode. For example, in case of a Korean character input mode,
only Korean consonants and vowels are displayed on the respective
direction indicators 55. In case of an English character input
mode, only English consonants and vowels are displayed on the
respective direction indicators 55. In addition, the direction
indicators 55 can be hidden by a user's skillful manipulation.
[0162] In the meantime, a character display section 56 may be
provided at one side of display section 15 or the touch screen 23
so as to allow each input operation and the characters assigned for
the input operation to be displayed thereon in place of the
direction indicators 55. In this case, it is, of course, possible
to modify the kind of characters to be displayed on the character
display section 56 depending on an input mode.
[0163] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 9, a mode display part 57 for
indicating a current character input mode may be further provided
on one side of the display section 15 or touch screen 23.
[0164] Furthermore, the character input device 1 according to the
present invention may be configured to provide two reference input
sections 30 and have two input sets.
[0165] Here, the two input sets may be provided on the base 10, as
shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, or may be provided on the touch pad 21 or
touch screen 23.
[0166] Furthermore, the respective input sets may be vertically
arranged, as shown in FIG. 9, or may be laterally arranged, as
shown in FIG. 10.
[0167] In this case, the respective input sets may be assigned the
same input operations or different input operations.
[0168] That is, any one of the two input sets is configured based
on the combination of FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 5(c), and the remaining
input set may be configured based on only 5(d).
[0169] Alternatively, the input sets shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be
laterally arranged. In this case, vowel characters can be input
through the movement of the contact point passing through the
reference input section 30, consonant characters can be input
through the vertical or lateral movement of the contact point
within the direction indicating section 50, and various function
commands, such as Enter, Space or Cancel, can be input through
contact with the respective direction indicating sections 50.
[0170] In the case where two input sets are provided as described
above, the number of the directions of the movement of the contact
point passing through the reference input section 30 may be
four.
[0171] Alternatively, in the above-described case, a pressing
sensing section may be provided on the sensing section 20
(including the touch pad 21 or the touch screen 23), thereby
enabling multi-stage input to be performed through contact or
pressing related to the respective direction indicating sections
50.
[0172] In this case, consonant characters may be input through the
lateral movement of the contact point in the respective direction
indicating sections 50, while vowel characters may be input through
touching or pressing in respective direction indicating sections
50.
[0173] Meanwhile, in the case where two auxiliary direction
indicating sections 51 are provided, vowel character can be input
through any one of contact and the movement of the contact point in
the direction indicating sections 50 or the movement of the contact
point passing through the reference input section 30, while various
command, such as Enter, Space or Cancel, can be input through
another one.
[0174] In the meantime, in providing two sets of input devices, the
movement direction of the contact point at each direction
indicating section 50 may be set such that a character is input
only in the forward and rearward directions, the leftward and
rightward directions, or the inward and outward directions.
[0175] For example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a reference input
section 30 is disposed at the right and left sides of the touch
screen 23, respectively, and eight direction indicating sections
50a to 50h are disposed equidistantly at different circumferential
positions spaced apart radially outwardly from the reference input
section 30. Each direction indicating section 50 may be configured
to have only direction indicators 55 which indicate an outward
contact movement (see FIG. 11) or an inward contact movement (see
FIG. 12) of the contact point relative to the reference input
section 30.
[0176] The combination of the input operations included in each
input device set can be, of course, modified depending on the kind
of the input mode.
[0177] For example, a combination of the input operations shown in
FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) is used in a Korean character input mode, and a
combination of the input operations shown in FIGS. 4(d) and 4(e) is
used in an English character input mode.
[0178] The character input device 1 according to the present
invention may be replaced with a mouse. For example, when a user
manipulates a switch key 13 provided at the base 10 or performs the
input operation on the touch screen 23 to switch the operation mode
from the character input mode to a mouse input mode, a mouse
function can be performed through the touching or the movement of
the contact point at the input region 25.
[0179] In other words, the movement of a mouse pointer can be
performed by the movement of the contact point and a function of a
left button of the mouse can be performed by the touching.
[0180] In this case, the left button of the mouse includes
typically functions such as depression of left and right buttons or
the vertical scrolling performed in a character input device called
a `mouse` used in a desktop PC or a notebook PC.
[0181] In this case, particularly, as shown in FIGS. 5(d) and 5(e),
the scrolling function may be performed through the input operation
based on the circumferential movement of the contact point.
[0182] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 10, the reference input section
30 of the present invention are provided in two sets at the right
and left sides of the upper portion of the touch screen 23, the
character input device set at the right side of the touch screen
can manipulate a pointer function of a joystick, i.e., the movement
of a game character, and the character input device set at the left
side of the touch screen can input commands for performing various
motions of the character.
[0183] In case of the movement of the game character, if the
contact point in close contact with the input region 25 goes far
away from the reference input section 30, it is possible to
increase the movement speed of the pointer or the game
character.
Second Embodiment
[0184] Next, a second embodiment of the input operations of the
character input device 1 according to the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to FIG. 13.
[0185] As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, an input
line connecting 8 direction indicating sections 50a to 50h is
provided. However, since the input line is provided merely for a
user's convenience, it may be omitted because the direction
indicating sections 50a to 50h.
[0186] With regard to the direction indicating section 50a to 50h,
respective different characters may be input through contact
(contact input {circle around (1)}) related to the respective
direction indicating sections, the inward movement of the contact
point (inward contact input {circle around (2)}) passing through
the direction indicating section, and the outward movement of the
contact point (outward contact input {circle around (3)}) passing
through the direction indicating section, as shown in FIG.
4(a).
[0187] For example, contact input related to the respective
direction indicating sections 50a to 50h are assigned consonant
characters, inward contact input related to the direction
indicating sections 50a to 50h are assigned vowel characters, and
outward contact input related to the respective direction
indicating sections 50a to 50h are assigned consonant
characters.
[0188] Accordingly, when characters assigned to the respective
direction indicating sections are Hangeul consonances and vowels,
the input of a single syllable can be completed by sequentially
performing contact input related to any one direction indicating
section, inward contact input and outward contact input.
Third Embodiment
[0189] Next, a third embodiment of the input operation of the
character input device 1 according to the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0190] In FIG. 14, various input operations related to each of the
direction indicating sections 50 are shown, That is, characters
assigned to respective direction indicating sections 50 may be
input through contact with the respective direction indicating
section 50, as shown in FIG. 14(a), and characters may be input
through the movement of the contact point from the reference input
section 30 to the respective direction indicating sections 50, as
shown in FIG. 14(b), and characters may be input through the
movement of the contact point from positions outside the respective
direction indicating section 50 to the respective direction
indicating sections 50, as shown in FIG. 14(c).
[0191] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14(d), characters may be
input through the outward movement of the contact point from the
respective direction indicating sections 50. Furthermore, as shown
in FIG. 14(e), characters may be input through the movement of the
contact point from the respective direction indicating section 50
to the reference input section 30.
[0192] Although the same character may be input through the input
operations related to the respective direction indicating section
50, different characters may be input. Furthermore, a character
different from characters related to respective input operations
may be input through the combination of two or more input
operations related to respective direction indicating sections
50.
[0193] Meanwhile, pressing on the respective direction indicating
section 50 and the reference input section 30 may be detected by a
pressing sensing section in such a way that the input operations
shown in FIG. 14 are implemented on a touch screen and the pressing
sensing section (not shown) is provided below the touch screen.
[0194] In this case, in addition to the five input operations,
pressing input for pressing the respective direction indicating
sections 50, and inward and outward pressing input for moving a
pressing point with regard to the respective direction indicating
sections may be implemented.
[0195] In greater detail, characters assigned to respective
direction indicating sections 50 may be input through pressing on
the respective direction indicating section 50, as shown in FIG.
15(a), and characters may be input through the movement of the
pressing point from the reference input section 30 to the
respective direction indicating sections 50, as shown in FIG.
15(b), and characters may be input through the movement of the
pressing point from positions outside the respective direction
indicating section 50 to the respective direction indicating
sections 50, as shown in FIG. 14(c).
[0196] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15(d), characters may be
input through the outward movement of the pressing point from the
respective direction indicating sections 50. Furthermore, as shown
in FIG. 15(e), characters may be input through the movement of the
pressing point from the respective direction indicating section 50
to the reference input section 30.
[0197] Although the same character may be input through the input
operations related to pressing and the movement of pressing point
related to the respective direction indicating section 50,
different characters may be input.
[0198] Furthermore, new characters may be input through the
combination of 10 input operations shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. For
example, new characters different from those related to the input
operations related to the direction indicating sections 50 may be
input by sequentially performing contact with the direction
indicating sections 50 show in FIG. 14(a), pressing on the
direction indicating section 50 shown in FIG. 15(a) and outward
contact movement from the direction indicating sections 50.
Fourth Embodiment
[0199] Next, a fourth embodiment of the input operation of the
character input device 1 according to the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 16 and 18.
[0200] In the present embodiment, with regard to 8 direction
indicating sections 50a to 50h arranged along an input line, as
shown in FIG. 16, circumferential movement input for inputting a
characters through circumferential movement from a specific
direction indicating section to another direction indicating
section is added. The circumferential movement input allows
characters assigned to initial input and final input based on the
recognition of the initial input and the final input, or allows a
new character to be input based on the combination of initial input
and final input.
[0201] In greater detail, as shown in FIG. 16, a character may be
input through the movement of the contact point from a reference
input section 30 to a direction indicating section 50c in a 3
o'clock direction ({circle around (1)} in FIG. 16) or through the
movement of the contact point from a position outside the direction
indicating section 50c to the direction indicating section 50c in a
3 o'clock direction ({circle around (2)} in FIG. 16).
[0202] However, when circumferential movement to the direction
indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction is performed after
{circle around (1)} of FIG. 16 has been performed ({circle around
(3)} in FIG. 16), a character assigned to the direction indicating
section 50c in a 3 o'clock direction with respect to {circle around
(1)} of FIG. 16 and a character assigned to the direction
indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction with the
circumferential movement of {circle around (3)} of FIG. 16 may be
successively input. Alternatively, when circumferential movement to
the direction indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction is
performed after {circle around (2)} of FIG. 16 has been performed
({circle around (3)} of FIG. 16), a character assigned to the
direction indicating section 50c in a 3 o'clock direction with
respect to {circle around (2)} of FIG. 16 and a character assigned
to in the direction indicating section 50a a 12 o'clock direction
with respect to the circumferential movement of {circle around (3)}
of FIG. 16 can be successively input.
[0203] In this case, circumferential movement input after {circle
around (1)} of FIG. 16 and circumferential movement input after
{circle around (2)} of FIG. 16 may be configured to input
characters different from those related to the input of {circle
around (1)} of FIG. 16, the input of {circle around (2)} of FIG. 16
and the input of {circle around (3)} of FIG. 16.
[0204] Furthermore, when circumferential movement input is
performed, initial input may be configured to input a character
different from characters related to individual inputs.
[0205] That is, when a reference input section 30 is provided and
circumferential movement input is performed after contact movement
from the reference input section 30 to each of the respective
direction indicating sections 50 is performed, as shown in FIG.
17(a), a different character may be input through the contact
movement. Furthermore, when circumferential movement input is
performed after contact with a direction indicating section 50 at a
start location is successively performed two or more times, as
shown in FIG. 17(b), a character different from a character related
to contact with the direction indicating section 50. Furthermore,
when circumferential movement input is performed after movement to
the respective direction indicating section 50 has been performed
along with contact with an auxiliary indicator 53 provided outside
each of the direction indicating sections 50, as shown in FIG.
17(c), a character different from that related to input in which
the contact point moves from an outside position to the direction
indicating section 50 may be input.
[0206] Next, with reference to FIG. 18, the performance of the
circumferential movement input will be described.
[0207] That is, as shown in FIG. 18(a), a character may be input
through the movement of the contact point from the reference input
section 30 to the direction indicating section 50c in a 3 o'clock
direction, circumferential movement from the direction indicating
section 50c in a 3 o'clock direction to the direction indicating
section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction and contact with the
direction indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction.
[0208] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18(b), in the same way as that
in FIG. 18(a), a character may be input by performing final input
{circle around (3)} in a pressing fashion, rather than in a contact
fashion, after performing input {circle around (1)} and {circle
around (2)}.
[0209] In this case, in each of FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b), although
respective characters assigned to three input operations may be
input through the respective input operations, a new character may
be input through the combination of the input operations. In the
case where a new character is input through the combination of
three input operations, different characters may be input because
the final inputs {circle around (3)} of FIGS. 18(a) and 18(b) are
different from each other. For example, when contact with the
direction indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction is
performed after the inputs {circle around (1)} and {circle around
(2)} have been performed, as shown in FIG. 18(a), in the case where
`` is assigned to the input {circle around (1)} of FIG. 18 and ` is
assigned to the input {circle around (2)} of FIG. 18, the syllable
`` may be displayed while `` is input. Furthermore, when pressing
is performed on a direction indicating section in a 12 o'clock
direction after inputs {circle around (1)} and {circle around (2)}
have been performed, as shown in FIG. 18(b), the consonant under a
vowel ` may be added to the syllable `while `` is input.
[0210] All or some of the above-described various input operations
may be implemented in a single character input device.
[0211] In greater detail, as shown in FIG. 19(a), contact,
pressing, inward contact movement, outward contact movement, inward
pressing movement and outward pressing movement may be performed on
each of the respective direction indicating sections 50a to 50h
provided in the ring input section 60. Furthermore, as shown in
FIG. 19(b), contact and pressing are performed on each of the
respective direction indicating sections 50a to 50h provided in the
ring input section 60, and inward contact movement, outward contact
movement, inward pressing movement and outward pressing movement
may be performed between each of the direction indicating sections
50a to 50h and the reference input section 30.
[0212] In this case, different characters may be assigned to the
respective input operations, the same character may be assigned to
two input operations, and the same character may be assigned to
respective input operations.
[0213] Furthermore, the number of respective direction indicating
sections may be various, and a larger number of characters may be
input through the combination of FIGS. 19(a) and 19(b).
[0214] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, a different character
may be input depending on whether two input operations are
connected through circumferential input.
[0215] That is, in FIG. 20(a), respective assigned characters are
input through the movement of a pressing point to the direction
indicating sections 50c in a 3 o'clock direction ({circle around
(1)} in FIG. 20(a)) and the movement of the contact point from the
direction indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction ({circle
around (2)} in FIG. 20(a)). Meanwhile, when circumferential
movement is performed after input {circle around (1)} and input
{circle around (2)} is immediately performed, as shown in FIG.
20(b), a character different from a character related to input
{circle around (2)} in FIG. 20(a) may be input with respect to the
input {circle around (2)}.
[0216] For example, in FIG. 20(a), when inputs {circle around (1)}
and {circle around (2)} are sequentially performed in the case
where `` is assigned to the input {circle around (1)} and `` is
assigned to the input {circle around (2)}, the syllable `` is
input. In contrast, circumferential movement is performed after
input {circle around (1)} and input {circle around (2)} is
immediately input, as shown in FIG. 20(b), a character assigned to
the input {circle around (2)} may be modified into ``, and thus the
syllable `` may be input.
[0217] In a similar way, with regard to the movement of the contact
point from the reference input section 30 to the direction
indicating section 50b in a 1 o'clock direction ({circle around
(1)} in FIG. 21(a)) and contact with the direction indicating
section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction ({circle around (2)} in FIG.
21 a), shown in FIG. 21(a), if circumferential movement is included
between the input {circle around (1)} and the input {circle around
(2)} input, as shown in FIG. 21(b), a different character may be
input with respect to the input {circle around (2)}.
[0218] Furthermore, with regard to the movement of the contact
point to the direction indicating section 50c in a 3 o'clock
direction ({circle around (1)} in FIG. 22(a)) and the movement of
the contact point from the direction indicating section 50a in a 12
o'clock direction to the reference input section 30 ({circle around
(2)} in FIG. 22(a)), as shown in FIG. 22(a), if circumferential
movement is included between the input {circle around (1)} and the
input {circle around (2)}, as shown in FIG. 22(b), a different
character may be input with respect to the input {circle around
(2)}.
Fifth Embodiment
[0219] Next, a fifth embodiment of the input operation of the
character input device 1 according to the present invention will be
described with reference to FIG. 23.
[0220] In the present embodiment, a ring input section 60 is
provided, and characters are input through the input of movement
from each of direction indicating sections 50a to 50h on the ring
input section 60 to another direction indicating section. In this
case, a character to be input is determined depending the location
of an initially passed direction indicating section, such as that
shown in FIG. 23(a), and the location of a finally passed direction
indicating section, such as that shown in FIG. 23(b).
[0221] In greater detail, as shown in FIG. 23(a), different
characters may be respectively input with respect to the movement
of the contact point from a direction indicating section 50g in an
9 o'clock direction to a direction indicating section 50b in a 1
o'clock direction ({circle around (1)} in FIG. 23(a) and the
movement of the contact point from a position outside the direction
indicating section 50g in a 9 o'clock direction through the
direction indicating section 50g to the direction indicating
section 50b in 1 o'clock direction ({circle around (2)} in FIG.
23(a)). Here, the input {circle around (1)} is similar to that of
the combination of FIGS. 14(e) and (b), and the input {circle
around (2)} is similar to that of the combination of FIGS. 14(c)
and (b).
[0222] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 23(b), different characters
may be respectively input with respect to the movement of the
contact point from a direction indicating section 50a in a 12
o'clock direction to a direction indicating section 50f in a 7
o'clock direction ({circle around (1)} in FIG. 23(b)) and the
movement of the contact point from the direction indicating section
50a in a 12 o'clock direction through the direction indicating
section 50f in a 7 o'clock direction ({circle around (2)} in FIG.
23(b)). Here, the input {circle around (1)} is similar to that of
the combination of FIGS. 14(e) and (b), and the input {circle
around (2)} is similar to that of the combination of FIGS. 14(e)
and (d).
[0223] Meanwhile, FIG. 23(c) is a variation of the present
embodiment, in which a reference input section 30 is provided at
the center of a ring input section 60. In FIG. 23(c), different
characters may be respectively input with respect to the movement
of the contact point from a direction indicating section 50a in a
12 o'clock direction to a position outside the ring input section
60 ({circle around (1)}), the movement of the contact point from
the direction indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction to
the reference input section 30 ({circle around (2)}), the movement
of the contact point from the direction indicating section 50a in a
12 o'clock through the reference input section 30 ({circle around
(3)}), the movement of the contact point from the direction
indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction through the
reference input section 30 to a direction indicating section 50e in
a 6 o'clock direction ({circle around (4)}), and movement from a
position outside the ring input section 60 through the direction
indicating section 50a in a 12 o'clock direction, the reference
input section 30 and a direction indicating section 50e in a 6
o'clock direction to a location outside the ring input section 60
({circle around (5)}).
[0224] Furthermore, in FIG. 23(c), consonant 1 may be input through
input {circle around (1)}, while consonant 2 may be input through
input {circle around (2)}. In this case, since input {circle around
(3)} is performed after the input {circle around (2)}, vowel 1 may
be input along with the consonant 2 related to the input {circle
around (2)}. Furthermore, since input {circle around (4)} is also
performed after the input {circle around (2)} input, vowel 2 may be
input along with the consonant 2 related to the input {circle
around (2)}. Furthermore, since input {circle around (5)} starts
with contact outside the ring input section 60, unlike the input
{circle around (1)} and the input {circle around (2)} related to
consonant input, consonant 3, together with vowel 3, may be
input.
[0225] Here, the consonant 1, the consonant 2 and the consonant 3
and the vowel 1, the vowel 2 and the vowel 3 pertain to separable
phoneme groups of characters in a specific language, they are
distinguished from each other based on a specific scheme.
[0226] As described above, in the present invention, the number of
characters that can be input can be considerably increased through
various input operations related to the direction indicating
section and the reference input section. That is, one or more of
the Hangeul alphabet, the English alphabet and the Japanese
Hiragana and Katakana may be arranged in the character input
device. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a sufficient number
of characters that can be input, assign symbols and functions to
surplus characters, and enable characters, symbols and functions to
be input without key switching using the character input
device.
[0227] Furthermore, the number of characters that can be input
using a single character input device, a keyboard function can be
performed along with a mouse function, and thus the device can be
conveniently used for input of Chinese characters or a game
requiring the use of various keys.
[0228] While the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to
be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims.
It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or
modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit
of the present invention.
* * * * *